Myanmar Protected Areas: Context, Current Status ... - Istituto Oikos

CHATTHIN
Site ID 4
Locality Sagaing Region, Kanbalu and Kawlin Townships
Coordinates N 23° 34’, E 95° 32
Size (km²) 269
Altitude (m. asl) 165 – 260
Myanmar category Wildlife Sanctuary
IUCN category IV
Site Governance Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division
Boundaries Demarcated
Year gazetted 1941
Protection level Total
Main purposes Conservation, Research/Education , Recreation/Tourism
Habitat
Indaing Forest, Mixed Deciduous Forest (Dry Upper),
Grassland
Key resources Eld’s Deer, Sambar Deer, Barking Deer, Gaur
Legend of topographic maps
Head Quarters
Ranger Post
Towns
Protected Areas
State/Region Boundaries
Roads
Water areas
Rivers
Elevation
5.800 m. asl
0 m. asl
Legend of satellite maps
Water Depth Vegetation Density
Deep
Shallow
High
Low
SITE DESCRIPTION
Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Kanbalu and Kawlin
Townships of Sagaing Region in upper Myanmar. Boundary of
the site is marked with posts and board signals on the ground.
Elevation of the site ranges from 165 to 260 m.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Indaing forest is the main forest type covering about 90% of
the site. Checklists of 263 tree species, 240 birds, 160 insects,
47 fishes, 38 reptiles, 15 amphibians and 13 mammals are
available at the Zoology Department of the University of
Yangon. Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi thamin), is one of the three
subspecies of Eld’s deer and is native to Myanmar.
MANAGEMENT
There is an annual management plan in place whose
effectiveness is judged good. A buffer zone is present and the
following activities are allowed in it: agriculture, fuel wood
collection and fishing. Park staff patrol the buffer zone in
cooperation with local villagers.
Management actions in place:
• Patrolling in order to reduce illegal hunting and logging
• Environmental education to reduce timber exploitation
pressure
• Faunal surveys of Eld’s deer, Birds, Dhole, Squirrel.
Myanmar Protected Areas
• Management of Natural Forests
• Forest replantation through Community forestry is also
implemented.
Management problems:
• insufficient manpower
• insufficient budget
Required actions:
• Provision of GPS, binoculars and computer
• Training to staff for communication and awareness raising
activities with local communities
• Training to local community for the management of
community forests
STAFF / RESOURCES
39 Staff from the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division
of the Forest Department are assigned to the site, including
1 warden, 8 rangers, 21 foresters and 9 labourers. 7 staff
members have graduate level education. In addition, the
warden and two rangers attended trainings. Only park warden
can use computer at intermediate level.
Park Warden office is situated in Kanbalu Township of Sagaing
Region. 5 ranger posts are located in the surrounding villages
(San Myaung, Kin san, Nyaung Gon, Pe Tabin, Let Khot Pin)
each with at least 1 ranger and 1 forest guard allocated.
28 29
THREATS
INSIDE
• Hunting & Collecting Terrestrial Animals (subsistence)
• Gathering Terrestrial Plants
• Logging & Wood Harvesting
• Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources
• Fire & Fire suppression.
OUTSIDE
• Fishing & Harvesting Aquatic Resources
• Hunting & Collecting Terrestrial Animals
LAND USE AND HUMAN ACTIVITIES
INSIDE
• Forest plantations for reforestation
• Extensive grazing
• Shifting cultivation during rainy season
• Fishing with poison
OUTSIDE
• Permanent cropping
• Fishing
RESEARCH
The NWCD and the Zoology Department of Yangon
University have implemented research on the following
subjects: Dipterocarp forest ecology, Myanmar hare habitat,
ant and earthworm ecology, human impact assessment on
fish species.